The first half of Premier League competition for Chelsea this season could not have gone worse. It was also extremely non indicative of how the rest of the season has gone so far. Since that disastrous first half versus Burnley in which they outscored 3-0, the Blues have a goal differential of 12-2, achieving four wins and one draw.

Striker Alvaro Morata, who broke the club transfer fee record when he moved over from Real Madrid this summer, has been stellar. He’s provided the goals required in the absence of Diego Costa.

One always looks forward to ESPN FC and Analyst Shaka Hislop releasing the weekly power rankings of all the teams in Europe (which is a de facto power rankings for every team in the world, since European footy is the strongest of all). It’s an ambitious project to do a European power rankings, so kudos to Hislop for being up to the challenge.

The two Manchester clubs switched places this week, as City is ahead of United in the table, but only because of alphabetical order. Both sides have taken 13 points from the first five matches, and put up a 16-2 goal differential.

It’s not often that a supervisor gives a former employee a really awful performance appraisal once the subordinate has moved on to another organization. That’s because the individual is now out of their hair, simply not their problem anymore.

Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is okay, having not suffered any injuries in a minor car crash on his way home from the team’s training session Wednesday.

Teammate and forward Michy Batshuayi was asked by a Twitter user if Bakayoko was okay, after post crash images of the summer transfer window addition’s SUV emerged online. Those pictures showed the Mercedes in bushes, with a smashed windshield.

The World Players Union of footballers, FIFPro, will announce the globe’s best XI in London on October 23. Today they released the list of 55 players now under consideration for that elite of the elite team, and Manchester United lead the way among English Premier League sides with five players on the list.

Chelsea have four, Arsenal two, while Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur each have one. Shockingly, Manchester City were shut out from the FIFPro list, which is based on individual player performance during the 2016-17 season.

Chelsea star Eden Hazard has officially completed the final step in his rehabilitation and convalescence. Blues manager Antonio Conte has indicated that his wide midfielder will start for the team tomorrow night in the League Cup third round tie against Nottingham Forest.

“I think for Eden now is the right moment to start the game, and to try and play the whole game,” Conte said in a press conference.